Apparatuses and methods for moving windrow ends inward

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses for and methods of moving the ends of windrows inward are disclosed. The apparatuses of the present invention include a front end, a rear end and two opposing sides, the front end configured to be wider than the rear end, two skids attached to the two opposing sides, a gate rotatably attached to the rear end and configured to cover an opening in the rear end, a gate cylinder operably attached to the gate and configured to close the gate to collect fruit and/or nuts within the apparatus, and open the gate to distribute the fruit and/or nuts outside of the apparatus, thus eliminating the need to hand rake the ends of the windrows inward or to blow the ends of the windrow inward with a hand blower.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/876,312, filed Sep. 11, 2013.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The subject disclosure generally relates to agricultural apparatuses andmethods, and more specifically to apparatuses and methods forefficiently and effectively sweeping fruit and/or nuts from windrow endsinward after the fruit or nuts have been shaken from trees, so as tofacilitate removal by harvesting equipment.

DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND

For the purposes of this specification, the present invention will bedescribed in relation to harvesting nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts,pecans, hazelnuts, etc.). However it should be understood that theinvention is not so limited, and may be applied and/or used to collectany type of fruit or nuts that may be shaken from trees, blown or sweptinto windrows and then harvested.

The conventional method for harvesting nuts from trees consists of thefollowing steps: (1) shaking the trees with a shaker machine causing thenuts to fall from the trees; (2) sweeping the nuts with a sweeper and/orblower vehicle to create one or more windrows (a row of nuts between tworows of trees; (3) positioning a harvester machine over and/or near oneend of a windrow so that the windrow is completely beneath and inbetween the wheels of the harvester; and (4) driving the harvester alongthe length of the windrow so as to collect the nuts by shooting themstraight out from behind the harvester and into a nut trailer towedbehind the harvester.

Referring to FIG. 1A, therein are shown nuts 103A shaken from rows oftrees 106 in a scattered pattern 100A as described in step (1) above.FIG. 1B shows the windrow 100B created between rows of trees 106 afterthe nuts 103B have been swept with a sweeper or blower vehicle asdescribed in step (2) above. The nuts in the windrow may then becollected as described in steps (3)-(4) using a conventional harvestermachine and a trailer towed behind the harvester. However, a problemarises if the harvester and the accompanying nut trailer are not inline,because many nuts will not land in the trailer as the harvester shootsthem straight out from behind. This problem commonly arises when aharvester begins to turn inward towards one of the two ends 120 or 121of the windrow 100B of FIG. 1B.

The problem is illustrated in FIG. 2A. Although the harvester 207 hasalready begun picking up nuts 203 from the end 221A of windrow 200A, thetrailer 208 has not yet completed the turn to windrow 200A. As a result,rather than landing in the trailer 208, the nuts 203 gathered by theharvester 207 undesirably scatter on the ground behind the harvester(see, e.g., scattered nuts 209). A similar “outward” problem occurs atthe other end 220A of the windrow 200A since the harvester 207 needs toturn out of the windrow 200A towards an adjacent windrow prior tocollecting all of the nuts 203. To gather all of the nuts 203 at end220A of windrow 200A, the harvester 207 would undesirably have to backup to pick up the nuts 203.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, it is shown therein that because of theconfiguration of a typical orchard having rows of trees 206, and theconfiguration of the harvester 207 and trailer 208, the harvester 207and trailer 208 will not be inline until the harvester 207 and trailer208 have traveled into the windrow 200B a distance D equal to theircombined length. Accordingly, before the harvester 207 and trailer 208begin to collect nuts 203, the ends 220A, 221A of FIG. 2A of the windrow200A are typically brought inward the distance D so as to form ashortened windrow 200B with repositioned ends 220B, 221B as shown inFIG. 2B. As a result, so long as the ends 220A, 221A are brought in atleast by the combined length D of the harvester 207 and trailer 208, theharvester 207 will remain aligned with the trailer 208 throughout theprocess of collecting the nuts in shortened windrow 200B.

Currently, moving the ends of a windrow inward undesirably involves themanual use of hand blowers and/or hand rakes. Workers either walk infrom the ends of a windrow carrying a hand blower and blow the nutstowards the middle of the windrow, or manually rake the nuts towards thecenter of the windrow, which is a slow process involving significantlabor costs. Moving the nuts with a hand blower also makes preciseplacement of the nuts difficult. Without careful control some nuts maybe missed by the harvester, affecting yields. Hand raking of the nuts iseven more time-consuming and labor intensive than hand blowing the nutsfrom the windrow ends inward.

The nuts at the ends of the windows that are brought in conventionally,by either a hand blower or raking, are typically brought in as short ofa distance as possible, in order to minimize the labor involved inshortening the windrow. As a result, typically, there is a heavyconcentration of nuts at or near the ends of the shortened length of thewindrow. The heavy concentration of nuts may not all be picked up by theharvester machine in one pass, and the machine may have to back up anddrive over the ends of the shortened windrows again, in order to ensurethat all nuts are collected. The additional time to back up and driveover the ends of the windrows shortened by a conventional method ofmoving the ends of the windrows inward adds significant cost to theprocess of harvesting the nuts.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and methodologywhich overcomes these limitations. To this end, it should be noted thatthe above-described deficiencies are merely intended to provide anoverview of some of the problems of conventional systems, and are notintended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the current state of theart and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limitingembodiments may become further apparent upon review of the followingdescription of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention related to apparatuses and methodsfor efficiently and effectively sweeping fruit and/or nuts from windrowends inward after the fruit or nuts have been shaken from trees, so asto facilitate removal by harvesting equipment.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus for moving theends of windrows inward, the apparatus comprising: (a) a front end, arear end, and two opposing sides, the front end having a width greaterthan the width of the rear end, (b) two skids attached to the twoopposing sides; (c) a gate operably attached to the rear end; and (d) agate cylinder having a mounting end and a rod end, the gate cylinderoperably attached to the gate at the rod end and configured to open andclose the gate, wherein the apparatus is configured to funnel a wide rowof nuts and/or fruit at the front end into a narrow row at the rear end.In some embodiments, the apparatus also comprises one or more arms (mosttypically, hydraulically operated arms) for raising the apparatus upand/or away from the ground so that the apparatus (1) may travel freelyout of a windrow after nuts are dispersed, (2) may travel freely forwardalong a windrow to the other end so as to then move the other end of thewindrow inward, and/or to move in and out of storage.

In some embodiments, the gate cylindered is located approximately at themidpoint between the two opposing sides, and a mounting end of the gatecylinder may be operably attached to a brace. In some embodiments, theapparatus also comprises diagonal braces fixedly attached to an uprightmember, which has been attached to a cross brace. The rod end of thegate cylinder may be operably attached to a gate linkage such that whenthe rod end of the gate cylinder is refracted, the gate moves to an openposition, and when the rod end of the gate cylinder is extended, thegate moves to a closed position. In some embodiments, the gate may berotatably attached to the rear end by a shaft and at least one bearing.

The invention also relates to a method for moving the ends of windrowsinward, the method comprising (1) operably attaching an apparatus to atransport vehicle, the apparatus comprising (a) a front end, (b) a rearend, and (c) two opposing sides, the front end having a width greaterthan a width of the rear end, (d) two skids attached to the two opposingsides, (e) a gate operably attached to the rear end, and (f) a gatecylinder having a mounting end and a rod end, the gate cylinder operablyattached to the gate at the rod end and configured to open and close thegate, and wherein the apparatus is configured to funnel a wide row ofnuts and/or fruit at the front end into a narrow row at the rear end;(b) approaching a first end of a windrow with the gate in a loweredposition; (c) moving the transport vehicle over the first end of thewindrow; (d) contacting and pulling the nuts and/or fruit forwardbeneath the apparatus by continuing to move the transport vehicleforward; (e) operating a mechanism to lift the gate at a predeterminedtime and/or distance from the first end of the windrow, thereby allowingthe nuts and/or fruit to disperse ratably while continuing to move thetransport vehicle and the apparatus forward.

Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide apparatusesand methods for moving the ends of windrows inward efficiently withoutthe need to manually rake the ends of the windrows inward or blow theends of the windrows inward with a hand blower, thereby saving asignificant amount of time and costs. The present invention alsoadvantageously distributes the nuts at the ends of the windrows moreeffectively over a greater distance in the windrow, thereby insuringthat conventional harvesters will collect all of the nuts at the end ofthe windrows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various non-limiting embodiments are further described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates a scattering of nuts between rows oftrees.

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates an exemplary windrow formed from thescattering nuts illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a harvester turning into a windrow.

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates an exemplary windrow with ends broughtin.

FIG. 3A schematically illustrates a windrow, an exemplary apparatus inaccordance with an aspect of the subject specification and a transportvehicle, prior to the apparatus and transport vehicle moving over afirst end of the windrow.

FIG. 3B schematically illustrates the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 3Aafter the apparatus has been moved over the first end of the windrow bythe transport vehicle.

FIG. 3C shows the windrow of FIG. 3A after the first end has beenbrought inward by the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 3A and the transportvehicle.

FIG. 4A schematically illustrates exemplary windrows before they arebrought inwards with an apparatus in accordance with an aspect of thesubject specification.

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates exemplary windrows after they arebrought inwards with an apparatus in accordance with an aspect of thesubject specification.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an exemplary apparatus for moving windrow endsinward in accordance with an aspect of the subject specification.

FIG. 6 is a second view of an exemplary apparatus of FIG. 5 showing theapparatus connected to the back rail of a transport vehicle inaccordance with an aspect of the subject specification.

FIG. 7A is a photograph of an exemplary apparatus for moving windrowends inward viewed from the back of the apparatus and showing a gate inthe lowered position and a cylinder for raising and lowering the gate inaccordance with an aspect of the subject specification.

FIG. 7B is a second photograph of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 7viewed from the cylinder side of the apparatus in accordance with anaspect of the subject specification.

FIG. 7C is a third photograph of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 7viewed from the side opposite the cylinder side of the apparatus inaccordance with an aspect of the subject specification.

FIG. 7D is a photograph of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 7 momentsafter the gate has been lifted as the apparatus is pulled forward inaccordance with an aspect of the subject specification.

FIG. 8A is a photograph of a second exemplary apparatus for movingwindrow ends inward viewed from the rear end of the apparatus andshowing the apparatus attached to a transport vehicle and a gate of theapparatus in the open position.

FIG. 8B is a photograph of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 8A viewedfrom the side of the apparatus in accordance with an aspect of thesubject specification.

FIG. 8C is a photograph of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 8A showing apartial view from the opposite side of the apparatus from that of theview of FIG. 8B.

FIG. 8D is a photograph of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 8A showingconnection of a center rod of a transport vehicle to an upright member.

FIG. 8E is an enlarged photograph of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 8Ashowing connection of the side rods of the transport vehicle to a crossbrace attached to the opposing sides of the apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a photograph of an exemplary apparatus viewed from the rearend and side of the apparatus showing a gate of the apparatus in theclosed position.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged photograph of an exemplary apparatus viewed fromthe top, near the rear end, showing a semicircular cutout in the rearend of the apparatus and two beveled guides attached to opposing sidesof the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with thefollowing embodiments, it will be understood that the descriptions arenot intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On thecontrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives,modifications, and equivalents that may be included within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specificdetails are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe present invention. However, it will be readily apparent to oneskilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced withoutthese specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not tounnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

For the sake of convenience and simplicity, the terms “funnel-likeapparatus,” “funnel-like trailer apparatus, “trailer apparatus,” and“apparatus” may be used interchangeably herein, but are generally giventheir art-recognized meanings. Also, for convenience and simplicity, theterms “cylinder,” “hydraulic cylinder,” and “hydraulic ram,” may be usedinterchangeably, and wherever one such term is used, it also encompassesthe other terms.

As discussed in the background, conventional methods for moving windrowends inward often involve walking between the rows of trees near thewindrow ends carrying a hand blower, and blowing the nuts towards themiddle of the windrow, or manually raking the nuts toward the middle ofthe windrow. The various embodiments disclosed herein are directed toincreasing the speed and efficiency at which nuts can be moved inwardfrom the ends of windrows, and decreasing the amount of labor requiredto move the nuts, so that the nuts may be harvested with a harvestermore efficiently and cost-effectively.

Exemplary Methods for Moving the Ends of Windrows Inward

In an exemplary embodiment, a funnel-like trailer apparatus for movingthe nuts in a windrow inward is disclosed. FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate anexemplary sequence of steps that facilitates moving a first end 320A ofa windrow 300A inward with the apparatus 311 and transport vehicle 312.The nuts 303 had previously been shaken from the rows of trees 306 andswept into windrow 300A by conventional methods. As illustrated, thefunnel-like apparatus 311 is configured to be attached to a transportvehicle 312 (e.g., a tractor, an all-terrain vehicle, a utility vehicle,etc.) at the front (wider) end of apparatus 311. At the first step (FIG.3A), the transport vehicle 312 with the attached funnel-like apparatus311 approaches the first end 320A of a windrow 300A. At the second step(FIG. 3B), the vehicle 312 and apparatus 311 have moved inward, whereinthe first end 320A of windrow 300A remains intact beneath the vehicle312 and apparatus 311. When the vehicle 312 and apparatus 311 havedriven over the first end 320A of windrow 300A, a gate (not shown; seee.g., gate 755 of FIG. 7A) in a closed position at and/or near the rearend (not shown; see e.g., rear end 752 of FIG. 7A) of the apparatus 311makes the first contact with the first end 320A windrow 300A. As thevehicle 312 continues to move forward, the gate of the funnel-likeapparatus 311 pulls the nuts 303 along, collecting the nuts 303 beneaththe apparatus 311.

As shown in FIG. 3C, at a prescribed and/or predetermined distance Dfrom what was the first end 320A of the windrow 300A, the operator ofthe transport vehicle 312 operates a lever or other conventionalmechanism (not shown) on the vehicle 312 to open the gate of theapparatus 311, allowing the accumulated nuts 303 to be dispersed and/ordistributed ratably beginning at the repositioned first end 320B of theshortened windrow 300B as the transport vehicle 312 and apparatus 311continue to move forward. The operator may then move the transportvehicle 312 and the apparatus 311 backwards out of the shortened windrow300B to a first end of the next adjacent windrow (not shown) to repeatthe process. In other embodiments the operator may move the transportvehicle 312 and the apparatus 311 forward to the second (opposite) end321A of the shortened windrow 300B to move the second end 321A of theshortened windrow 300B inward.

In some embodiments the operator of the transport vehicle 312 may movethe vehicle 312 and the apparatus 311 forward to the second end 321A ofshortened windrow 300B, but instead of moving the second end 321A ofshortened windrow 300B inward, the operator may continue out of theshortened windrow 300B to the second end of the adjacent windrow to movethe second end of the adjacent windrow inward. In such embodiments, theoperator may proceed through the rows of tree in the field or orchard ina serpentine pattern, and then proceed back through the field or orchardin a reverse serpentine pattern moving the ends opposite to the endspreviously moved inward.

FIGS. 4A-4B, respectively, illustrate exemplary windrows before andafter the ends are brought inwards with an apparatus in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4A is shown threewindrows, 400A, 401A and 402A containing nuts 403, 404 and 405 which hadpreviously been shaken from rows of trees 406 and swept into thewindrows 400A-402A by conventional means. The travel of a transportvehicle 412 and trailer apparatus 411 are shown schematically.Typically, the transport vehicle 412 and apparatus 411 will enter thefirst windrow 400A and travel over the first end 420A of windrow 400Auntil it collects the nuts 403 from at least a distance D (see e.g.,distance D in FIGS. 2B and 3C) equal to or greater than the combinedlength L of the transport vehicle 412 and apparatus 411. The transportvehicle 412 and apparatus 411 will continue to travel forward into thewindrow 400A until the apparatus 411 distributes the nuts 403 collectedfrom at least the distance D.

Typically, after distributing the nuts 403 from the first end 420A ofwindrow 400A, the transport vehicle 412 and apparatus 411 reverse thedirection of travel and back out of the first windrow 400A. The stepswill then be repeated for the first end 422A of the second windrow 401A,collecting and distributing nuts 404, and the first end 424A of thethird windrow 402A, collecting and distributing nuts 405. FIG. 4B showsshortened windrows 400B-402B and the repositioned ends 420B, 422B and424B. Although FIGS. 4A and 4B show three parallel windrows, a field ororchard may have any number of windrows. Once all windrows are broughtin, a harvester may then effectively pick up the nuts and drop them intothe accompanying nut trailer.

Although not shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, the transport vehicle 412 andapparatus 411 may also bring the second ends, respectively 421A, 423A,and 425A inward at least a distance D equal to the length L of transportvehicle 412 and apparatus 411. The second ends 421A, 423A and 425A maybe brought inward after all of the first ends 420A, 422A and 424A arebrought inward. Alternatively, the transport vehicle 412 and apparatus411 may travel in a serpentine pattern. Specifically, the sequence ofbringing the ends or windrows inward may be as follows: (1) first end420A of windrow 400A may be brought inward, (2) second end 423A ofwindrow 401A may be brought inward, and (3) first end 424A of windrow402A is brought inward. The serpentine pattern may then be reversed suchthat (4) the second end 425A of windrow 402A is brought inward, (5) thefirst end 422A of windrow 401A is brought inward, and (6) the second end421A of windrow 400A may be brought inward.

Exemplary Apparatuses for Moving the Ends of Windrows Inward

FIG. 5 shows a top view of an exemplary funnel-like apparatus 511according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 511 comprisesa front end 551 and a rear end 552, the front end having a width greaterthan a width of the rear end, two opposing sides 553A-B, attached to thefront end and the rear end, each of the two opposing sides having anattached skid 554A-B. The apparatus 511 also comprises a gate 555, agate cylinder (e.g., a hydraulic ram) 556, associated tubing (not shown;see e.g., hydraulic tubing 658 of FIG. 6), and a gate linkage 557. Insome embodiments a backup rake 559 may be attached to the rear end 552,configured to rake nuts that may be missed by the funnel-like apparatus511. The apparatus 511, when viewed from the top comprises a trapezoidalshape such that the front end 551 is configured to be wider than therear end 552. Thus, as the apparatus 511 travels from an end toward themiddle of a windrow, a wide row of nuts at the front end 551 is funneledto a narrower row of nuts at the rear end 552.

In some embodiments, the front end 551, rear end 552, opposing sides553A-B, skids 554A-B and the gate 555 may comprise metal, for example,steel sheet and/or steel plate, which may be rolled, formed and/or bent.In some embodiments the two skids 554A-B may comprise steel bars, steelchannel, and/or steel angles. The apparatus 511 may also comprise squareand/or rectangular steel tubing. In other embodiments the apparatus 511may comprise aluminum and/or an aluminum alloy, stainless steel,fiberglass reinforced plastic, and/or other plastic materials that maybe bent, formed, drilled and/or screwed. The apparatus 511 may bewelded, brazed, bolted, riveted, fused and/or screwed together. Themetal may be prime painted, finished painted, anodized, electro-latedand/or otherwise treated and/or coated by other conventional methods soas to prevent rust, corrosion and/or to extend the useful life of theapparatus 511. In some embodiments, the undersides (i.e., the sides thatcontact the ground) of skids 554A-B may be coated (e.g., with a Tefloncoating, electroless nickel PTFE coating, hard chrome coating, etc.) toreduce friction and improve wear. The apparatus 511 may also haveattached two or more wheels (not shown) to assist in moving theapparatus 511 in and/or out of the windrows (e.g., windrows 400A-402A ofFIG. 4) when in use.

In some embodiments the gate cylinder 556 may be pneumatically operatedby a compressor/pneumatic control system in the transport vehicle. Inother embodiments, the gate cylinder 556 may be hydraulically operated,again through the use of a hydraulic system/control system on thetransport vehicle. Other methods known in the art may also be used toraise and lower the gate (e.g., a motor, servo-motor, chain drive, beltdrive, etc.). In some embodiments, the gate cylinder 556 (or otherconventional device for opening or closing the gate) may be operatedfrom the transport vehicle via a lever, switch, push button and/or otherconventional method of operation.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the funnel-like trailer apparatus 611 is shownconnected to a rear end of a transport vehicle by three arms (e.g.,hydraulic arms). Specifically, a center arm 660, and secondary 661A-Bare connected to the rear end of a transport vehicle. When the centerarm 660 and secondary arms 661A-B are activated (e.g., by a lever and/orswitch in a transport vehicle), the funnel-like apparatus 611 is raisedup and away from the ground (i.e., the skids 654A-B, gate 655 and/orwheels do not contact the ground) so that the apparatus 611 may be movedin and/or out of the windrows freely after the nuts are dispersed, ormay be moved in or out of storage, before and/or after use. When thecenter arm 660 and secondary arms 661A-B are deactivated, the apparatus611 is lowered such that skids 654A-B and gate 655 contact the groundand the apparatus may start to collect nuts.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, hydraulic tubing 658 connects a hydrauliccylinder (hydraulic ram) 656 to a transport vehicle hydraulic controlsystem. However, and as described above, in other embodiments, thecylinder 656 may be pneumatically operated, or the gate 655 may beopened and closed by some other method known in the art (for example amotor, servo-motor, etc.) and such motor or servo-motor may beelectrically connected to a control system located on or in thetransport vehicle.

Referring now to the photographs of FIGS. 7A-7D, there is shown anexemplary rear view (FIG. 7A), an exemplary left side view (FIG. 7B), anexemplary right side view (FIG. 7C) and a second exemplary rear view(FIG. 7D), respectively, of an exemplary funnel-like apparatus 711 usedto move windrow ends inward. In FIGS. 7A-7D the apparatus 711 isattached to a transport vehicle. The apparatus 711 comprises a front end751 (see FIGS. 7B and 7C) and a rear end 752 having an opening (notshown), the front end having a width greater than a width of the rearend, two opposing sides 753A-B attached to front end 751 and the rearend 752, each of the two opposing sides 753A-B having an attached skid754A or 754B, a gate 755 operably attached to the rear end andconfigured to cover the opening in the rear end, a gate cylinder 756operably attached to the gate and configured to close the gate tocollect fruit and/or nuts within the apparatus, and open the gate todistribute the fruit and/or nuts outside of the apparatus. As shown inFIGS. 7A-7D, the apparatus 711 also comprises a gate linkage 757, tubing758, arms 760 (see FIG. 7B) and 761A-B, and wheels 762A-B.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7 D, the gate cylinder 756 is operatedhydraulically by a hydraulic control system (not shown) on the transportvehicle, and the tubing 758 is hydraulic tubing. The arms 760, 761A-Bmay also be hydraulically operated by a hydraulic control on thetransport vehicle, wherein the arms 760, 761A-B are utilized for raisingand lowering the apparatus 711 on and/or off the ground when not in use,or when backing out of or moving forward in a windrow. The views ofFIGS. 7A-7D show the apparatus 711 in a lowered position, ready tocollect nuts at the ends of the windrows, or as shown in FIG. 7D, in theprocess of distributing nuts in a windrow.

Also in the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-D, the gate cylinder 756 is locatedon one of the opposing sides 753A-B (i.e., opposing side 753A) of theapparatus 711. However, in other embodiments, the gate cylinder 756 maybe located on the other opposing side (i.e., 753B), or may be centeredbetween the two opposing sides 753A-B of the apparatus 711 and supportedby an optional brace (not shown, see e.g., cylinder 856 and brace 881 ofFIG. 8B). In some embodiments two or more gate cylinders 756 may be usedto operate gate 755, and one of the two or more gate cylinders 756 maybe located on each of the two opposing side 753A-B of apparatus 711.Similarly, two or more gate linkages 757 may connect gate 755 to the twoor more gate cylinders 756, and the two or more gate linkages 757 may befixedly attached to each other so that the gate cylinders 756 operate inunison.

Further, in the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7D, the gate 755 is rotatablyattached to the rear end 752 by hinges 763. The hinges 763 may bewelded, brazed, bolted, screwed and/or riveted to the rear end 752, sothat gate 755 may be opened and/or closed by gate cylinder 756 and gatelinkage 757. However, in other embodiments, a shaft and bearings may beused to rotatably attach the gate 755 to the rear end 752 (see, e.g.,gate 755, bearings 872A-B, and rear end 852 of FIG. 8A).

In FIG. 7D, the exemplary apparatus 711 of FIG. 7A-7C is illustratedjust as the gate 755 begins to open, while the apparatus 711 is beingpulled forward by a transport vehicle. Specifically, as the apparatus711 moves forward, nuts 703 that have accumulated within the apparatus711 are released from an opening (not shown; see for example,semicircular opening 1095 of FIG. 10) in the rear end 752 of theapparatus 711 via the opened gate 755. Because the apparatus 711continues to move forward as the gate 755 is opened, the nuts 703 areratably distributed along a windrow.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8C, therein is shown an exemplary apparatus811 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising afront end 851 and a rear end 852, the front end having a width greaterthan a width of the rear end, two opposing sides 853A-B attached to thefront end and the rear end, each of the two opposing sides 853A-B havingan attached skid 854A or 854B, a gate 855 operably attached to the rearend 852 and configured to cover an opening (not shown; see, e.g.,semicircular opening 1095 of FIG. 10) in the rear end 852, a gatecylinder 856 operably attached to the gate and configured to close thegate to collect fruit and/or nuts within the apparatus, and open thegate to distribute the fruit and/or nuts outside of the apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, the apparatus 811 also comprises a gate linkage857 operably attached to the gate cylinder 856, tubing 858, center arm860, two secondary arms 861A-B, wheels 862A-B, a brace 881, two diagonalbraces 882A-B, upright member 883 and a cross brace 884. The front end851, opposing sides 853A-B, rear end 852, and skids 854A-B may beattached or otherwise connected by welding, brazing, bolting, screwingand/or riveting. In the embodiments of FIGS. 8A-8C, the gate cylinder856 is located at approximately the midpoint between opposing sides853A-B, and a mounting end 876A of gate cylinder 856 may be operablyattached to a brace 881 by conventional means (e.g., with steel angles,channel, and/or plate, and/or with bushings, bolts and nuts, washers,lock washers, locking pins, etc.). Brace 881 may be fixedly attached toopposing sides 853A-B by welding, brazing, bolting, screwing and/orriveting.

In addition, the apparatus 811 of FIGS. 8A-8C comprises diagonal braces882A-B which may be fixedly attached to each other at and/or near frontend 851 and to brace 881 by welding, brazing, bolting, screwing and/orriveting. In the embodiment of FIGS. 8A-C, diagonal braces 882A-B arealso fixedly attached to an upright member 883, and the upright member883 may be fixedly attached to a cross brace 884 at approximately themidpoint. The cross brace 884 may be also be fixedly attached to theopposing sides 853A-B. Such fixed connections may be made by welding,brazing, bolting, screwing and/or riveting. Although the embodiment ofFIGS. 8A-8C comprises diagonal braces 882A-B, in other embodiments,other configurations of braces may be used to add strength and rigidityto the apparatus 811. For example, in some embodiments, additional crossbraces attached to and spanning between the opposing sides may beutilized, and/or longitudinal braces attached to the front end, the rearend, and/or one or more cross braces may be used. Further, in someembodiments, longitudinal braces may be attached to one or more uprightmembers.

The rod end 876B of gate cylinder 856 may be operably attached to gatelinkage 856 as shown in FIG. 8B (see also rod end 976B attached to gatelinkage 957 of FIG. 9). To open the gate 855, the gate cylinder 856 isoperated (e.g., by a hydraulic control system on a transport vehicle)such that the rod end 876B is retracted (see FIGS. 8A-8B), and the gatelinkage 856 pulls gate 855 open. To close the gate 855, the gatecylinder 856 is operated such that the rod end 876B is extended (see,e.g., rod end 976B and FIG. 9) and gate linkage 856 pushes gate 855closed. In the embodiment of FIGS. 8A-E, hydraulic tubing 858 connectsthe hydraulic gate cylinder (hydraulic ram) 856 to the transport vehiclehydraulic control system (not shown). However, and as described above,in other embodiments, the cylinder 856 may be pneumatically operated, orthe gate 855 may be opened and closed by some other method known in theart (for example a motor, servo-motor, etc.) and such motor orservo-motor may be electrically connected to a control system located onor in the transport vehicle.

In some embodiments, the gate 855 may be rotatably attached to the rearend 852 by shaft 871 and bearings 872A-B. Although the embodiment ofFIG. 8A-8E has two bearings 872A-B, other embodiments may have as few aone (1) bearing or as many as five (5) bearings (e.g., 1, 3, 4, etc.).The bearings 872A-B may be pillow block bearings or any other type ofconventional bearing that may be utilized to attach the shaft 871 to therear end 852 of the apparatus 811.

Referring now to FIG. 8D-8E, therein are shown enlarged views of thecenter arm 860 and the two secondary arms 861A-B of the apparatus ofFIGS. 8A-8C. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-C, the upright member883 also comprises two plates 891A-B for connection of the center arm860, and the center arm 860 may be operably attached to the two flatplates 891A-B by removable bolt 885. In some embodiments, the center arm860 may also comprise one or more bearings and or bushings (not shown)that may be pressed into and/or otherwise attached to center arm 860.The cross brace 884 may also comprise two secondary plates 892A-Bfixedly attached to cross brace 884 by welding, brazing, bolting,screwing and/or riveting. The secondary arms 861A-B may be attached tocross brace 884 and/or secondary plates 892A-B by secondary removablebolts 887A-B. When the apparatus 811 is not in use and/or is beingstored, apparatus 811 may be disconnected from the transport vehicle byremoval of removable bolt 885 and secondary removable bolts 887A-B. Insuch embodiments, the center arm 860 and secondary arms 861A-B remainattached to the transport vehicle.

Although the embodiment of FIGS. 8A-8C shows one center arm 860 and twosecondary arms 861A-B, other arrangements of arms are possible. Forexample, in some embodiments, a single arm may raise and lower theapparatus 811 in relationship to the transport vehicle, while in otherembodiments, there may be two parallel primary arms to raise and lowerthe apparatus 811. In various embodiments, as many as a total of sixarms may be used for raising and lowering the apparatus 811 in relationto the transport vehicle.

In FIG. 9, is shown an exemplary apparatus 911 disconnected from atransport vehicle. Similar to apparatus 811 of FIGS. 8A-8C, theapparatus 911 comprises a front end 951, a rear end 952, two opposingsides 953A-B, skids 954A (not shown) and 954B, a gate 955, a gatecylinder 956, a gate linkage 957, tubing 958, wheels 962A-B, a brace981, two diagonal braces 982A-B, upright member 983 and a cross brace984. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, a rod end 976B of cylinder 956 isshown in the extended position with the gate 955 in the closed position.As is shown in FIG. 9, when apparatus 911 is not connected to atransport vehicle, arms (e.g., center arm 860 and secondary arms 861A-Bof FIGS. 8D-8E) are not part of the apparatus 911. Also, as is shown inFIG. 9, the hydraulic lines 958, which connect the gate cylinder 956 toa hydraulic control system on the transport vehicle, remain with theapparatus 911.

Referring now to FIG. 10, therein is shown an enlarged view lookinginside the rear end 1052 of an exemplary apparatus. In the embodiment ofFIG. 10, the rear end 1052 comprises a semicircular opening 1095configured to aid in the distribution of nuts when gate 1055 is in theopen position. However, in some embodiments, the opening in the rear endmay be triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal,octagonal, elliptical, ovoid and/or an irregular shape. The embodimentof FIG. 10 also comprises beveled guides 1088A-B, attached to the twoopposing sides of the apparatus, and configured to guide collected nuts(not shown) out through semi-circular opening 1095 when gate 1055 is inthe open position. The beveled guides may be attached by welding,brazing, bolting, screwing and/or riveting.

In some embodiments, the beveled plates 1088A-B may be the full heightof the apparatus, or in other embodiments, the beveled guides 1088A-Bmay be only a fraction of the height of the apparatus. In someembodiments, multiple beveled guides attached to each of the twoopposing sides may be used to direct the flow of nuts to the opening1095.

In view of the exemplary systems described supra, methodologies that maybe implemented in accordance with the disclosed subject matter can beappreciated with reference to the various figures. While for purposes ofsimplicity of explanation, the methodologies are described as a seriesof steps, it is to be understood and appreciated that the disclosedsubject matter is not limited by the order of the steps, as some stepsmay occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other steps fromwhat is described herein. Moreover, not all disclosed steps may berequired to implement the methodologies described hereinafter.

While the various embodiments have been described in connection with theexemplary embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understoodthat other similar embodiments may be used or modifications andadditions may be made to the described embodiment for performing thesame function without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the presentinvention should not be limited to any single embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for moving the ends of windrowsinward, the apparatus comprising: (a) a front end and a rear end, thefront end having a width greater than a width of the rear end; (b) twoopposing sides attached to the front end and the rear end, each of thetwo opposing sides having an attached skid; (c) a gate operably attachedto the rear end and configured to cover an opening in the rear end; (d)a gate cylinder operably attached to the gate and configured to closethe gate to collect fruit and/or nuts within the apparatus, and open thegate to distribute the fruit and/or nuts outside of the apparatus. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gate linkage, wherein arod end of the gate cylinder is operably attached to the gate linkage,and the gate linkage is fixedly attached to the gate.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the gate cylinder is a hydraulic cylinder and thehydraulic cylinder is operated by a mechanism on a transport vehicle. 4.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more arms operablyattached to a transport vehicle and configured to raise and/or lower theapparatus in relation to the transport vehicle.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising two or more wheels.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises steel tubing, sheet, plate,channel and/or angle.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gatecylinder is operably attached to a brace at a point equidistant betweenthe two opposing sides.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a pair ofdiagonal braces, are fixedly attached (a) to each other at and/or nearthe front end, and (b) to the brace.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein (a) the pair of diagonal braces is fixedly attached to anupright member, (b) the upright member is fixedly attached to a crossbrace; and (c) the cross brace is fixedly attached to the two opposingsides.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the brace, diagonal bracesand cross brace comprise steel tubing, sheet, plate, channel and/orangle.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus furthercomprises a shaft, the shaft (a) rotatably attached to the rear end byat least one bearing, and (b) fixedly attached to the gate.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more beveled guidesattached to at least one of the opposing sides and configured to furtherfunnel the nuts and/or fruit toward an opening in the rear end.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening in the rear end issemicircular.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a backuprake.
 15. A method for moving the ends of windrows inward, the methodcomprising: (a) operably attaching an apparatus to a transport vehicle,the apparatus comprising: i. a front end and a rear end, the front endhaving a width greater than a width of the rear end; ii. two opposingsides attached to the front end and the rear end, each opposing sidehaving an attached skid; iii. a gate operably attached to the rear endand configured to cover an opening in the rear end; and iv. a gatecylinder operably attached to the gate and configured to close the gateto collect fruit and/or nuts within the apparatus, and open the gate todistribute the fruit and/or nuts outside of the apparatus; (b)approaching a first end of a windrow with the gate in a loweredposition; (c) moving the transport vehicle and the apparatus over thefirst end of one of the windrows; (d) contacting and pulling the nutsand/or fruit forward beneath the apparatus by continuing to move thetransport vehicle forward; (e) operating a mechanism to open the gate ata predetermined time and/or distance from the first end of the windrow,thereby allowing the nuts and/or fruit to distribute ratably whilecontinuing to move the transport vehicle and the apparatus forward. 16.The method of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further comprises one ormore hydraulic arms operably attached to the transport vehicle, the oneor more hydraulic arms configured to raise and/or lower the apparatus inrelation to the transport vehicle.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: (f) raising the apparatus in relation to the transportvehicle; (g) moving the transport vehicle and the apparatus backwardsout of the windrow; and (h) repeating steps (b) through (e) forsuccessive windrows.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: (f)raising the apparatus in relation to the transport vehicle; (g) movingthe transport vehicle and the apparatus forward out of the windrow, andrepeating steps (b) through (e) for a second end of an adjacent windrow.19. The method of claim 16, further comprising lowering the apparatusprior to approaching the first end of the windrow.
 20. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising closing the gate prior to moving thetransport vehicle and the apparatus backwards out of the windrow.